Vogel
A German and Dutch surname meaning “bird” or “fowl,” originally a nickname or byname.
The #1,153 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 10,133 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Vogel comes from the German and Dutch word for “bird” or “fowl,” ultimately from Old High German and Middle High German forms of the same word. In surname use, it likely began as a nickname for someone thought to resemble a bird, or perhaps for someone lively, sharp, or bird-like in some personal trait. The name can also overlap with occupational bynames such as a bird-catcher or fowler in some cases.
History
The surname is common in German-speaking areas and also appears in Dutch records, where it has the same basic meaning. Historical surname books often treat it as a straightforward inherited nickname, while related forms like Vogler can reflect an occupational extension (“fowler” or “bird-catcher”). English records occasionally show related immigrant or adapted forms, but Vogel itself remains especially associated with Germany and the Low Countries.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname writers sometimes glossed Vogel not just as “bird,” but also as a nickname for a bright or cunning fellow.
From the historical record
“bald-headed] VOGEL (Ger.) Fowl: v. the Appendix of Foreign Names. VOGLER (Ger.) Fowler: v. the Appendix of Foreign Names. VOGT (Ger.) Overseer ; Bailiff ; Provost : V. the Appendix of Foreign Names. VOISEY (Fr.) Bel. to Voisey (Haute-Marne), A.D. 1162 Voisie [sufl. early forms upon which to come to a definite…”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)